Resilient wheel



June l 1927.

21 F. A. TURNER RESILIENT WHEEL Filed April l. 1925 Patented June 21, 1927.

2P A NT Fil C E.

-FRANKv TURNER, OFf'NEW YORKf N i Y.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

'Application led April 1, 19'25. 'Serial No.19,862.

vThis invention relates to a resilient wheel characterized as disclosed by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates granted April 3,1917, and numbered 1 1,221,393.

'Said `wheel includes a Heating annular tire carryingrim having a series of spaced apart outerbearings, anr annular wheel rim or .telly having a seriesot spaced inner bearings alternating with the outer bearings, andan inextensible floating annular spring interposed betweentlie tire and the telly in sliding contact with said bearings, sa'ii'dyspring normally maintaining the telly substantially concentric with the tire rim andthe bearings oit the telly substantially central relative to those of the tire rim, and being loosely .flexible by the action ot' the load carried by the felly, to form resilient torqueltransmitting connections 'which yieldingly support the :telly and its "load under all conditions of torque-transmission.

According to the disclosure oit said patent, the spring has a loose separable bearing on thesaid outer and inner bearings, and is not otherwiseengaged or connected with the `tire rim and felly. ,y

AThe `wheel embodying the present invention is characterized in part by spring-suspending members iXedly connected with the -rini member of the tii'e and/bearing on r'the inner-side of the spring, and telly-suspending members, alternating'with the spring- `suspending members, fixedly connected with the telly, and bearing on the outer side of the spring, to suspend the telly within the spring,l the object being'to utilize maximum arcas or segments ot the spring in yieldingly supporting'tlie fellyand its load, the spring {'be'ing suspended at a plurality o'f points jtrointlie rim memberof the tire, and the felly v` being suspended at a plurality of points from the spring. the points oi suspension of. the spring and telly alternating with Aeach other "throughout extended areas or segments ofthe spring. y 1Thewheel islalso characterized by other improvements hereinafter appearing.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part otthis specification,-

4lFigure 1 is afsi'delelevation, showing a complete wheel, parts being shown in section.

- l"Figure 9. isa section on line .2-2 of`Figmel.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a side view, showing the rim member oi' the tire, a portion of the telly,

the hollow cylindrical abutments, the sprinfr,

and the suspending members, other part-s of tlievwheel shown by Figures 1, 2 and 3 being l omitted.

the abutment-conliningr tubular rivets.

Figure 11. shows in perspective the suspending inenibei' shown by Figure 3.

Figure 1Q is a side view. showing the spring made of helically coiled wire.

The same reference characters indicate the saine parts in all ci the figures.

In the drawings, 12 designates an in- "tlexible annular rim or tire member which may have a resilient tread surface formed by an ordinary solid rubberI tire 13.

The rim 121is provided with inwardly projecting lflanges 16, in which are formed yuniformly spaced holes receiving the end portions of transverse abutment-confining members which are preferably tubular rivets 15. The end portions of the rivets 15 are inserted in the flange holes when the parts of the wheel are being assembled, and are rigidly secured therein in any suitable manner, as by expanding their ends in the vflangeholes, so that they prevent the flanges 16 yfrom spreading apart.

Mo'unted on the rivets 15, between the 'flanges 16, are hollow cylindrical outer abut- -inents 14, which loosely surround the rivets,

`as best shown by Figure 5, so that the rivvetsdo not serve asy bearings forthe abutnients, and vserve onlyto confine the abutments in approximately the positions shown, in laterally shittable contact with the inner| surtace ot' the rim 12, and with the outer surface of the annular' spring' 19, hereina'ter described. It is intended that the load will be carried in part by the outer' abutments 1i, contacting, as stated, with the inner surface ot the rim 12, and the outer .--;nr:ue ol the sprinp` 19.

The wheel telly includes an annular' inner' body portion 1S, secured to the spokes, and an annular' outer portion 1T, which may be detaehably secured to the body portion 18 by any suitable tastenings, or may be bolted or riveted to the body portion. I hereinat'tcr call the portion 17 a telly member. The telly member 17 is provided at each edge witir a series ot uniformly spaced outwardly projecting,l ears 22 (Figure 9) having` ori liccs which receive the ends of tubular rivets 21. The end portions of the rivets 21 are inserted in the ears when the parts ot the wheel are being assembled, and are rigidly secured to the ears by any suitable m mns, as by expandingl the ends ot the rivets in the cars.

Mounted loosely on the rivets 21, between the ears 22, are hollow cylindrical inner nbntmeuts 20. Said inner abutments, which may be similar in construction to the outer alituments 1-l-. loosely surround the rivets 21, and are contined thereby in approximately tire positions shown, in laterally shiftable contact with the inner surface of the annular spring 19, and with the outer surface of the telly member 17 as best shown by Figure G. The rivets 21, rigidly secured to the cars 22, prei'ent said ears 'from spreading` apart while under load. It is intended that the load will lie carried in part by the inner abutments 20, contactingY as stated. with the inner surface ol the spring;` 19 and witrr the outer surface ot the lelly member 17.

The annular spring 19 may be a continuous band or rine` ot resilient material, such as tempered steel. I prefer, however, to make it b v winding au elongated strip ot resilient wirel to form a helix, as shown by Figure 12, the wire beine` preferably rectangular in cross section. as shown by Figures 2 and 3. 'Fue object ot this construction of the spring is stated hereinafter. i

The present invention is characterized in part by the outer and inner' abutments 14 l 20. mounted loosely on the rivets 15 and l. and capable of movin;r laterally on said rirets. 't'or a purpose hereinafter stated. The invention is also characterized by spring'- suspendingr members, tixedly connected with the rim 12. adjacent to the. outer abutments let, .and bearing' on the inner surface of the spring;` 19. to suspend the springtrom and within the rim. and telly-suspending` members tixedly connected with the tellyv member 1T, adjacent to the inner abutments, and

bearing on the outer surface of the spring, to suspend the telly from and Within the spring'.

rllhese suspendingI members may be var1- ously constructed and secured. lhe tellysuspending` members are prcterably transverse metal rods (Figure 3), having` hooked ends 25, sprungl into the, tubular rivets 2l, through slots 26 in the cars 22 and slots 2T in the rivets (Figures 9 and 10).I the rods 211 bem-innr on the outer surface ot the springl 19. Each ot' the suspending members 2l is confined rigidly by the entrance ot its hooked ends in the said slots, the arrangement ot which is best shown by Figures 9 and 10.

rllhe springsuspending members are prettcrably transverse rods or bolts 28 (Figure 2), arranged to bear on the inner surface oit the sjring` 19, and rigidly connected with thc rim 12, by annular side plates 29, having` uniformly spaced holes in which the bolts 28 are inserted. .ln this instance, the side plates 29 bear on the outer sides ot the rim flanges 1G, and are engaged therewith by pins` 30, littinnY loosely in thc ends of the tubular rivets 15, and riveted into holes termed 'For their reception in the plates 29. The bolts 2S servo also to confine the side plates 29 and the pins 30 in proper relation to tubular i rivets 15 and rim flanges 16.

The side plates are in slidingA contact with opposite edges ot the body portion 18 oi the telly. shown by Figures 2 and 3. The members 2S are located in close proximity to the outer abutmeuts 141, as shown by Figures 2 and o.

lt will now be seen that the spring-susn pending;l and telly-suspendingl members bear on the sinkingat a plurality of spaced apart points, so that the weight of thc telly and its load is distributed over elongated areas or segments of the spring, the spring being held in suspension from the rim 12 by the suspending members 28 which bear on the inner de ot the spring, while the telly is held in suspension 'from the spring' by the suspen.fling` members 21 which bear ou the outer side of the spring.

The rectangular wire termine the helical spring` 19 is so wound that its convolutions are normally spaced apart. and the outer portions are therefore adapted to bear yieldine'ly on eontiningr members such as the hooked portions 25 ot the rods 2li; and the ears 22, and prevent edgewise play ol`: the spring and ratt ingr contact ther-cot with said confining` members.

rihc abutments 111- and 20 are also preferably conuposed of rectangular wire helically coiled. as shown by Figures 7 and 8. The convolutions of the wire are normally spaced apart. so that the outer convolutions in each abutment are adapted to bear yieldingly on centinine` members between which the abutlears menty is interposed,withoutfendwise play,

said yconfining fngiembers. ,i The I confining members otitlie outerlabutment14,arethe `flanges litten the ram "12. 'The confining members, ot the i nneriabutiuent- Q0, are the U. ai,

mamie, the inner abutments QOareshorter i the outer abutments il.

When the above-described parts are assembled without load, sume the relative positions shown by Figure l. lVhen the load is applied to the telly member 17, the parts will naturally assume ajiiproximately the relative positions shown by vFigure ll, some et the parts being in suspension, others in tension, and others in compression. When the telly member 17 is rotated either torward or backward, a torqueconveying condition is set up, causing rotation ot the rim l2, with the telly.

I claim:

l. A resilient wheel comprising an annu- .lar tire-carrying rim having a series ot spaced outer abutments projecting inward trom its inner surtacc, an annular telly member having a series ot spaced apart fixed rivets. hollow cylindrical inner abutments laterally movable on said rivets, projecting outward trom the outer surtace ot the telly member and alternating` with the outer abut* ments, an annular spring interposed between the rim and the telly member and contacting with the said abutments, spring-suspending members iizredly connected with the rim adjacent to the outer abutments, and bearing on the inner snr-tace ot the spring to suspend the spring trom and within the rim; and telly-suspending members tiXedly connected with the telly adjacent to the inner abutments. and bearing on the outer surtace ot the spring to suspend the telly trom and within the spring, the arrangement being such that the spring-suspending and the tellysuspending members bear on the spring at a plurality ot spaced apart points, so that the weight et the telly and its load is distributed over elongated segments ot the spring, said spring being flexed at each ot said points by movements ot the telly relative to the rim.

Q. A resilient wheel as specified by claim l. said :telly member being provided with slotted ears and slotted tubular rivets fixed to said ears, the said inner abutments being en'ibodied in hollow cylindrical abutments laterally movable on said rivets between the ears. the said telly-suspending members beingembodied in rods bearing on the outer side ot the spring` and having hooked ends sprung into the slots ot said ears and rivets.

n 3. A resilient wheel as specified by claim l, the rim being provided with fixed inwardly projecting annular side plates, the spring-suspended members being embodied on the tel-,ly mclriber 17. In this Y they will naturally asl in tranversebolts iixed to the sideplates at lipolnts; adj acentf toi the outer abutments and bearing; en the;;1nner side.- `otthe spring.

A., Afresjilientwheel com risin 0' lan f annuv lar `tire-carrying @rim having transverse rivets spacedfinward:trom yitsinner side, outer hollont;cylindrical abutments movable ila-teralllyfon said rivets,v an f annular telly member ,having traiisverse rivetsvspaced outavarditromyitslouter side*I inner hollow cylindrical 1f abutments g movable laterally on i 4the last-named rivets, anA yannular spring interposed between the rim and the telly member and contacting with said abutments, the inner abutments contacting also with the telly member, and the outer abutme-nts with the rim7 spring-suspending members liXedly connected with the rim, adjac-ent to the outer abutments and bearing on the inner surtace ot the spring to suspend the spring trom and within the rim, and telly-suspending mem# bers Xedly connected with the telly member adjacent to the inner abutments, and bearing on the outer side ot the spring to suspend the telly trom and within the spring.

5. A resilient wheel comprising an annular tire-carrying rim having a series ot spaced apart outer abutments projecting inward trom its inner side, an annular telly member having a series ot spaced apart in ner abutments projecting outward trom its outer side, an annular spring ot helically coiled wire, interposed between the rim and the telly member and contacting with said abutments, and coniining members carried by the rim and telly member, and contacting with opposite edges ot the spring. the convolutions ot the spring being normally spaced apart, so that the spring is laterally compressed between said confining members and has a non-rattling contact therewith.

6. A resilient wheel comprising an annular tire-carryingI rim having a series ot spaced apart outer abutments projecting inward trom its inner side, and composed ot helically coiled resilient wire rollers, and conning members carried by the rim at opposite ends ot said abutments, having nonrattling contact with the end convolutions of said outer rollers; an annular telly-member having a series ot spaced apart inner abutments projecting outward trom its outer side and composed ot helically coiled resilient wire rollers; confining members carried by the telly member at opposite ends ot said inner rollers. and having a non-rattling contact with the end convolutions thereof; and an annular spring interpossed between the rim and telly member and contacting with said rollers.

7. A vresilient wheel comprising a telly member and a rim member spaced trom each other, and an annular spring between them, said two members having rolling abutments bearing alternately on the inner and outer llO surfaces oli said spring` means being provided adjacent each abutment to bear 0n the surface of the spring` opposite the abutment when the action of load tends to pull such abutment away from the spring.

8. A resilient wlieel comprising a felly `aeinber and a rim member spaced from each other, and au annular spring between them, said two members having` rolling abutments b .aringlalternately on the inner and Outer surfaces oi said spring, said abutments consisting of coiled spring` wire.

9. A resilient wheel comprising a felly member and a rim member spaced from eacli other, and an annular spring between them, said two members having rolling abutments bearing alternately on the inner and outer surfaces of said spring, the annular spring and the abutments consisting of coiled spring' wire.

In testimonyT whereof I have affixed my signature.

FRANK A. TURNER. 

